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Post by Agarash on May 11, 2004 6:32:24 GMT
This is all before we factor in those bloody Kalkoth.... Don't forget the Javek, whose "venom...is the most powerful natural poison in all of Magnamund." www.projectaon.org/xhtml/lw/03tcok/sect88.htmWhich makes me wonder...why didn't Lone Wolf wrap his jacket around his arm and use it to defend himself from the Kalkoth, like he did with the Javek? Sure, the snake was two-headed, and he defended himself from one head while attacking the other, but are we really supposed to believe that the other head is just sitting there, waiting for him to kill it? If it's attacking back, then presumably the jacket-shield would work just as well against a Kalkoth as it does here. Thoughts, anyone?
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Post by The Tagazin Poodle on May 11, 2004 13:15:43 GMT
Well, there's only one instance where you can get licked by a kalkoth without dying immediately, so maybe LW didn't realize the danger (beyond getting torn to shreds, that is).
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Post by Vonotar on May 11, 2004 20:42:13 GMT
First of all, as keeps getting pointed out, having 10 RN rolls, each with a 1/10 chance of dying, does not make the series 'theoretically impossible'. The 'about 35%' probability answer is perfectly correct. Second, if you know the books well, and pick the right Disciplines, there is no reason why you should encounter too many deadly RN rolls anyway, and in many cases you can guarantee survival by having the correct Displines. If you want a bit more on choosing the right Disciplines, go see my thread here: projectaon.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1084107653Obviously the optimal paths also need to be taken to maximise your chances of survival. For instance, if you are fighting Kalkoth or the Javek in Caverns of Kalte, you are not making the best choices. You should only encounter a single dangerous RN encounter in this book (apart from combats), which should only have a 3/50 chance of killing you. Later books can be more difficult, but in almost all cases, you can dramatically improve your chances by making certain good choices. LW11, Prisoners of Time is perhaps the only book I have encountered (I've only played up to LW15) which really depends a great deal on luck. And yes, I have completed the first 12 books without cheating. It's difficult, but provided you can survive LW11, really quite possible.
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deiseach
Kai Lord
Champion of the Sommerswerd
Posts: 170
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Post by deiseach on May 12, 2004 22:06:13 GMT
In other words, there are NOT a whole lot of compulsory / unavoidable Random Number experiences. Fair enough
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Post by Sol on Nov 30, 2004 21:41:14 GMT
I have also completed Books 1-12 without cheating. I am trying hard to get through books 1-20 without cheating. In fact, I own several adventures I have never even read because I have not survived to reach them. My highest book thus: 15. I have only survived 13 once.
I actually keep a huge hints notebook. This way, even when I die, I can add some special knowledge each time. Is it cheating? I don't think so... since Kai Wisdom in Book 1 encourages you to take notes. I also think that knowledge is the only way to have a chance of surviving all the books without dying.
And it is STILL hard.
I'm still looking for a way through Book 3 that involves no chance of Random Death. Hunting does seem to help, however.
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Post by Zipp on Nov 30, 2004 22:19:59 GMT
CONTAINS SPOILERS
This is the penultimate read through of Lone Wolf for me. The first time I will ever have read them all the way through, start to finish. Not adhering to the whole dying thing, though. I give myself a save or two throughout the story, generally after some story arc, and start there if I die. I haven't read them in a while, and am in it for the story. I might change this style in the books I never got to read, but no way I'm starting over at book 1. Did that for a while, and now cannot read book 2 anymore. I just know it by heart. Taking me a while to do the adventures this time, just busy elsewhere.
Current progress: Book 1 I died once defending the prince, but started a new character afterwards and did not die with him.
Book 2 killed me two or three times as I tried to get the spear from the Helghast. After that, you get the Sommerswerd, nuff said.
Book 3, died once at the Kalkoth.
Books 4 I had one death near the end, when I snuck along the gallery of the tomb. Instant death, I think. I had already learned my lesson ages ago about checking out the basement of the cabin.
Book 5 I had one death, when I leapt for Haakon rather than his black stone of death.
Book 6 I died twice, once by arrows while charging the bridge, and once in the sewers of hell.
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Post by Darkash on Dec 1, 2004 1:21:26 GMT
Obviously the optimal paths also need to be taken to maximise your chances of survival. For instance, if you are fighting Kalkoth or the Javek in Caverns of Kalte, you are not making the best choices. You should only encounter a single dangerous RN encounter in this book (apart from combats), which should only have a 3/50 chance of killing you. Actually, assuming you have the Sommerswerd, there are no ugly RN numbers necessary to complete this novel, and the only battle you need to fight is the Crystal Wurm, and only if you want the Silver Helmet In fact, you can get all the "good" items in the book ( Silver Helmet, +4 Alether, Effigy, Blue Stone Triangle, Kalte Firesphere) 7/10 of the time, and the other route only leaves out the Firesphere with no ugly rolls. EDIT: Oops, just found what you were talking about. Weird, I've never been caught by that before. Guess 3/50 sounds about right for those odds. We probally use the same route, then.
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columbob
Kai Lord
Up the Irons!
Posts: 161
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Post by columbob on Dec 1, 2004 13:13:06 GMT
This is the penultimate read through of Lone Wolf for me. By the way, penultimate means second to last.
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Post by Sol on Dec 1, 2004 15:29:00 GMT
Still working through these books with Kai-Team-10. I am in Book 2 now - just bought my ticket to Port Bax. All 10 of my characters still live (yes, all 10 dodged death by the falling mast). You can do wonderful things with 10 characters... for example, I had enough play to actually map all of Ragadorn. I also gladly discovered the path that lets you buy weapons in town... then I won't be at a huge disadvantage for having no weapons later in the book.
How will I handle the Helghasts? Easy! I can avoid the one with the spear (won't say how - spoilers) and I have given all 10 kai the Animal Kinship ability... this should see me through!
The only tough part while playing with 10 characters: there are LOTS of random number rolls made in Book 2 that can take your characters in all different directions. It is tough to keep track of who is where (or monotonous more like) since you are trying to adventure in parallel. That's actually where I stopped reading last night... when I left Ragadorn, there was another random choice, so I said "Enough for tonight!"
Maybe I will be able to find a safe path through Kalte as well now that I have ten different guys!
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Post by Zipp on Dec 1, 2004 19:30:26 GMT
Yes, I know it means second to last, I'm using it here as a bit of an exageration to acquire the feeling I have for this read through.
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Post by Sol on Dec 7, 2004 3:56:43 GMT
--> Sol's Kai Update <-- Completed Fire on the Water. Goal: to make it thru all 20 books without dying even once Playing: 10 Kai at once. Survived so far: 10! Next: The Caverns of Kalte!
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Post by Scarecrow on Dec 7, 2004 13:08:00 GMT
My first attempt ended in Fire on the Water - got squashed by the falling mast! I've been trying to play through all 12 books without cheating too, and was also just crushed by the falling mast. Odds: 1 in 10.
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columbob
Kai Lord
Up the Irons!
Posts: 161
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Post by columbob on Dec 7, 2004 14:02:19 GMT
I've been trying to play through all 12 books without cheating too, and was also just crushed by the falling mast. Odds: 1 in 10. Welcome to the boards, by the way.
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Post by Zipp on Dec 7, 2004 20:28:40 GMT
It's not cheating... it's the influence of Kai.
Ever get the sense that you are not, in fact, Lone Wolf, but Kai, influencing Lone Wolf's decisions?
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Post by PurpleTurtle on Dec 8, 2004 4:03:29 GMT
Maybe I will be able to find a safe path through Kalte as well now that I have ten different guys! Schrodinger's Kai Lord... he is dead, but he is also not dead... very interesting.
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